American Airlines no longer allows emotional support animals to travel on its aircraft other than as carry-on or in cargo. The carrier applies a Department of Transportation rule that will take effect next week. It defines a service animal as a dog trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability, a narrower definition than in the past.
“If the rule goes into effect on Jan. 11, American will no longer allow new travel for animals that don’t meet that definition, such as emotional support animals,” the airline announced in a press release Tuesday.
The airline said existing bookings with emotional support animals will be honored until Feb. 1, when the company’s new policy takes effect.
Animals that had previously traveled as emotional support animals and no longer qualify as service animals can be carried as carry-on or in cargo, provided they meet airline requirements, American added. The airline collects a pet fee ranging from $ 125 to several hundred dollars for transporting pets, according to the Associated Press.
“We believe this approach will enable us to better serve our customers, especially those with disabilities who travel with service animals, and to better protect our team members at the airport and on the plane”, Jessica Tyler, president of cargo and vice president of airport excellence for American, said in a statement.
Alaska Airlines also said a week ago that it would no longer accept animals with emotional support. Other airlines are expected to adopt the new policy.
The Transport Department said it was early last month reversing his long held position that required airlines to allow passengers to travel with emotional support animals as long as they had a doctor’s certificate.
The agency’s move follows an increase in complaints of service animals from passengers with disabilities, misconduct by emotional support animals, a lack of clarity surrounding the definition of ‘service animal’ and disruptions caused by ‘requests for unusual animal species on board of aircraft, ‘said the DOT.
Airlines have been struggling for years with travelers bringing a menagerie of animals on board, including cats, turtles, pigs and other creatures.
Notable incidents involving animals on flights included police calls to remove a woman with an emotional support squirrel from a Frontier Airlines flight in 2018 and United Airlines bouncing a passenger who wanted to bring a peacock on-board.